The winners of the New Venture Competition will be announced at Innovator’s Night 2023. Photo courtesy of Innovate@BU

Things To Do

The Week Ahead: April 24 to 30

Decompress from studying for finals with self-care events, on-campus a cappella performances, and stimulating discussions

This is BU Today’s new weekly feature, The Week Ahead. Its aim is to help keep you informed of what’s coming up around campus, Boston, the country, and the world, with a curated list of interesting and notable happenings. 

To submit an idea for a future listing, fill out this form.

Monday, April 24

Unmasked: COVID, Community & the Case of Okoboji

Join Georgetown professor Emily Mendenhall for a talk, titled Unmasked: COVID, Community & the Case of Okoboji. This event is the final talk in the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies’ Global Health Politics Workshop series, held throughout spring 2023. 

Unmasked: COVID, Community & the Case of Okoboji, noon to 1:30 pm, Pardee Center (first floor and Zoom. Register here. 

CFD Annual Conference Keynote Address: Conversation with Abdulrazak Gurnah 

Special guest Abdulrazak Gurnah, winner of the 2021 Nobel Prize in Literature, kicks off the Center on Forced Displacement’s inaugural conference. Gurnah grew up on the island of Zanzibar but was forcibly displaced in the 1960s, when citizens of Arab origin were persecuted. Gurnah has written novels and critical studies of postcolonial literature. The event will be followed by a full-day research symposium on April 25. 

CFD Annual Conference Keynote Address: Conversation with Abdulrazak Gurnah, 6 to 8 pm, Morse Auditorium. More information here. 

Tuesday, April 25

Spring Shred + Recycle Event

The 2023 Spring Shred + Recycle Event, held April 25 to 27 by BU Sustainability and BU Information Security, invites BU faculty, staff, and students to safely and securely dispose of important documents and paperwork. Participants can also recycle hard drives, batteries, lightbulbs, electronics, books, electrical cords, and more. 

Spring Shred + Recycle Event. Check here for dates, times, and drop-off locations. 

2023 Yitzhak Rabin Memorial Lecture: The Only Woman in the Room: Writing the Life of Golda Meir

Join Pnina Lahav for a lecture on her book about the leadership of Golda Meir, Israel’s fourth prime minister and first female head of state. The emerita BU law professor and member of the Elie Wiesel Center for Jewish Studies will examine Meir’s life in the context of the 20th century.

2023 Yitzhak Rabin Memorial Lecture, 4 to 7 pm, BU Hillel (fourth floor). Register here. 

Self-Care with Let’s Talk About It 

The Let’s Talk About It club promotes mindfulness and self-care by hosting formal and informal discussions about mental health and well-being. If you’re feeling anxious about finals or just want to relax, come de-stress with pizza, snacks, and wellness activities. 

Self-Care with Let’s Talk About It, 7:30 to 8:30 pm, BU Arts Initiative Room. More information here. 

Wednesday, April 26

Take a Movement Break with FitRec

Looking for a study break? Come to FitRec for a movement break, games, and the chance to win prizes. All participants will receive a piece of FitRec swag (while supplies last) and will be entered to win a summer prize pack, which includes a Polaroid camera with film, beach chair, speaker, and more. 

Take a Movement Break with FitRec, 2 to 5 pm, FitRec. More information here. 

The Wellbeing Experience

The Wellbeing Experience gives students a chance to step away from technology, unwind, and take a break. Head to the GSU and experience the Hangout Hammocks, chill out in the Zen Zone, and visit the Play Station. This returning event is hosted by Student Wellbeing, a campus-wide initiative to support the health and wellness of BU students through programs, events, and other resources. 

The Wellbeing Experience, 3 to 6 pm, George Sherman Union (Metcalf Ballroom). More information here. 

Journaling for Self-Expression

Journaling can improve mental health and help individuals process their thoughts. Join this free workshop, open to all BU students, which will explore different types of journaling, writing prompts, tips and techniques. All participants will receive a journal and self-care kit.

Journaling for Self-Expression, 4 to 5 pm, College of General Studies (Room 527). Register here. 

Thursday, April 27

Get Ready for Finals

Stressed about finals? This hour-long workshop provides test-taking, study, and self-care tips to ensure you’ll bel ready for finals week. Open to all students, the workshop aims to get you in the “finals mindset” and lower your stress levels. 

Get Read for Finals, 4 to 5 pm, Yawkey Center (Room 545B). Register here. 

Innovator’s Night 2023: Celebrating BU’s Rising Stars

Innovator’s Night, Innovate@BU’s capstone event at the end of Innovation Week, celebrates rising stars across BU. This public event will announce the New Venture Competition winners (who will be collectively awarded more than $72,000 in prizes) and recognize the winners of honorary awards like Student Innovator of the Year and the Innovate@BU Mentor of the Year. 

Innovator’s Night 2023, 6 to 9 pm, Metcalf Trustee Center ballroom. Register here. 

Friday, April 28

CISE Seminar: Concentric Tube Continuum Robots – from Heart Valve Repair to Brain Tumor Surgery

At the Center for Information & Systems Engineering, Pierre Dupont, professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School and chief of pediatric cardiac bioengineering at Boston Children’s Hospital, will deliver a talk about concentric tube robots, which can be used for minimally invasive medical applications. Dupont will discuss how these robots can improve heart valve repair and brain tumor surgery. 

CISE Seminar: Concentric Tube Continuum Robots – from Heart Valve Repair to Brain Tumor Surgery, 3 to 4 pm, Photonics Center (Room 203). More information here. 

A Cappella Galore

Don’t miss a variety of a cappella concerts this weekend from BU groups such as the Bostones, Aural Fixation, In Achord, The Dear Abbeys, Chordially Yours, and Treblemakers. Come support your classmates and enjoy a night filled with singing and special performances.

Saturday, April 29

BU Dance Theater Presents: One Man’s Trash

Back for its third national tour, One Man’s Trash features a variety of daring circus acts, such as leaping acrobats, flying aerialists, and juggling clubs. This repurposed circus “turns trash into treasure” and shows audiences the power of community and teamwork. Catch a performance of One Man’s Trash on April 28 and 29 at the BU Dance Theater. 

One Man’s Trash, 7:30 to 9 pm, BU Dance Theater. Purchase tickets here. 

Sunday, April 30

The Bach Experience at Marsh Chapel

The four-part Bach Experience, now in its 16th year, explores Johann Sebastian Bach’s church cantatas and explains their musical and theological significance. Led by Scott Allen Jarrett, music director at Marsh Chapel, the event begins with a complimentary breakfast and discussion of Bach’s work, followed by a performance of the cantatas during the 11 am interdenominational worship service at Marsh Chapel.

The Bach Experience, 9:30 am to noon, Marsh Chapel. More information here.